Audio Download

The Book of Romans, Part 21 – The Promise of the Spirit

[Study Aired December 5, 2023]

Rom 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 
Rom 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 
Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 
Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken no effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 
Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 
Rom 9:8 That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 
Rom 9:9 For this is the word of promise, at this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 
Rom 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 
Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

In our previous studies of Romans 1-8, we have been shown that we are all sinners and have come short of the glory of God. God is transforming us from glory to glory. The old man in us must be destroyed so that the new creature being formed in us can grow in faith. We are being freed from the law of sin, death, the old covenant, and are receiving a new law, the law of Christ. Paul is using the law and the Old Testament prophets as types and shadows to explain the law of the spirit. He explains that we are being freed from the dominion of sin by the transformation taking place within us if Christ be in you. Our new life is life in the spirit and the old is passing away. Christ brought a greater law which does away with the old. This process is impossible for the old man to complete. We must be born again of the spirit to obtain salvation. The new man is being saved from the death of the age to come and is given life in this age. God’s ultimate plan has always intended to destroy the old man and create the new man. This is accomplished through judgment and much tribulation. The old man does not seek death but cannot resist death. 

In our exploration of Romans 1-8, we’ve seen the profound truth is that all of us are sinners, falling short of the glory of God. The transformative work of God is evident as He moves us from one degree of glory to another. A critical aspect of this transformation is the necessity for the old man within us to be dismantled, paving the way for the growth of the new creature being fashioned in us. We are breaking from the law of sin and death, the old covenant. In its place, we are embracing a fresh set of principles—abiding by the teachings of Christ, known as the law of Christ.

Paul is teaching us that the law and Old Testament prophets are to be used as symbolic representations, foreshadowing the law of the spirit. The liberation from the dominion of sin is not achieved through external means as the law of Moses tells us but through an internal transformation. Our new existence is one lived in the spirit, and the former is gradually fading away. Christ, in His coming, ushers into a superior law, rendering the old obsolete. This transformative process is unattainable for the old man; it necessitates a spiritual rebirth for salvation to be realized.

The new man is experiencing deliverance from the perils of the age to come, a plan that aligns with God’s ultimate intention to abolish the old man and bring forth the new. This significant journey takes place amid intense challenges, a path that the old man neither actively pursues nor can ultimately endure. 

Rom 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 
Rom 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 
Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 
Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 
Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 

In Romans 9:1-5, Paul expresses his deep concern and sorrow for his fellow Israelites. Despite being an Israelite himself, Paul recognizes the spiritual realities that transcend mere lineage. Building on the foundation laid in Romans chapters 1-8, where Paul outlines the power of God’s grace, the destruction of the old man, and the emergence of the new man in Christ, he now applies these principles to his kinsmen according to the flesh.

Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken no effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 
Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. 
Rom 9:8 That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 

Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Romans 2:29 and Romans 9:6-8 share a common theme regarding the true identity of God’s people. In Romans 2:29, Paul speaks to the concept of circumcision of the heart, emphasizing that genuine Jewish identity is rooted in spiritual transformation rather than outward rituals. Romans 9:6-8 expands on this theme, discussing the distinction between physical Israelites and true Israelites in a spiritual sense. Paul argues that authentic belonging to God’s lineage is not determined solely by physical descent but requires faith and a spiritual connection. Together, these passages underscore the importance of internal, spiritual transformation and faith as the defining factors of one’s identity in God’s eyes. Circumcision of the heart is spoken of throughout the scriptures.

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Colossians 2:11-12 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The gospels share the same concept.

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

John the Baptist’s words challenge the notion that physical descent from Abraham guarantees spiritual privilege. God can raise up children to Abraham from unexpected sources, emphasizing a spiritual lineage.

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

This verse highlights a distinction between those who claim to be Jews outwardly and a deeper, spiritual reality. Our identity goes beyond physical lineage and is tied to a relationship with God.

Paul continues by giving us the Old Testament types and shadows.

Rom 9:9 For this is the word of promise, at this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
Rom 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

In this passage, the promise is given to Sara that she will have a son, symbolizing the selection of the elect of God. Abraham’s first son is rejected, drawing a parallel to the rejection of the old man. Esau is also rejected, while Jacob is chosen, symbolizing the chosen status of the new man. These events serve as types and shadows, representing the rejection of the old man and the election of the new man.

As those having circumcised hearts, we, the true Jews, are the elect of God. Through this election, we are being prepared to serve as the kings and priests of Christ. The process involves continuing in His word, keeping his commandment, and enduring until the end. In doing so, we become descendants of the promise originally given to Sara.

Joh 15:8-17 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

As Israel and Jacob were chosen, we were chosen by Christ. The flesh profits nothing. Just as Paul hoped that his kinsmen of the flesh would come to see the error of their ways, we also hope for mankind to have their hearts changed. We know that will take place in the ages to come so we groan for the Lord to come swiftly.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

Rom 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

In conclusion, Paul’s expression of concern for his fellow Israelites in Romans 9:1-5 he emphasizes the spiritual transformation, circumcision of the heart, and being chosen by Christ culminate in the understanding that our identity is rooted in a relationship with God, transcending physical lineage and rituals. This study offers a comprehensive perspective on the elect’s journey incorporating Old Testament types and shadows to illustrate profound spiritual truths.

Joh 4:19-26 (BBE) The woman said to him, Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our fathers gave worship on this mountain, but you Jews say that the right place for worship is in Jerusalem. Jesus said to her, Woman, take my word for this; the time is coming when you will not give worship to the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You give worship, but without knowledge of what you are worshipping: we give worship to what we have knowledge of: for salvation comes from the Jews. But the time is coming, and is even now here, when the true worshippers will give worship to the Father in the true way of the spirit, for these are the worshippers desired by the Father. God is Spirit: then let his worshippers give him worship in the true way of the spirit. The woman said to him, I am certain that the Messiah, who is named Christ, is coming; when he comes he will make all things clear to us. Jesus said to her, I, who am talking to you, am he.